Lumber-sorter



' 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

0.1%. LITTLE. LUMBER SRTER.

No. 486,584. Patented Nov. zz, '1892.

Ewen/tar.'

PHOTCLLITND. WASHINGTON D c (No Model.)

' l 4 Sheets- Sheet 2. C. R. LITTLE.

LU'MBER SORTBR. v

Patented Nov. 2,2, 1892.

MW E1 (No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet 3.

, G. R. LITTLE.

LUMBBR SORTER.

No. 486,584. Patented Nov. 22, 1892.

(N0 Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

AC. R. LITTLE. LUMBER SORTER.

No. 488,584. Patented Nov. 22, 1892.

'2Q-671935,93? Emu/anion" Amo/7277x238 NITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. LITTLE, OF WEST DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

LUMBER-SORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,584, dated November22, 1892.

' l Application tiled April 11. 1892. Serial No. 428,713. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. LITTLE, of West Duluth, in the countyofSt. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new andusefullmprovements in Lumber-Sorters; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention,whichwill enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specica-tion.

The main object of my invention is to facilitate the handling andsorting of lumber according to quality or dimensions.

It consists, essentially, ofa number of pockets or receptacles forlumber of different grades or dimensions, conveying mechanism arrangedto carry the lumber to and deposit it in said receptacles, and mechanismunder the control of the operator, by which lumber of the variousdimensions or grades is directed into the proper pockets or receptacles,and of certain other novel features in the construction and arrangementof the apparatus, hereinafter particularly described, and pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings like letters designate the same partsin theseveral figures.

Figure l is a partial side elevation and vertical section of my improvedapparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectionv of the same on anenlarged scale, showing one of the pockets or receptacles and theassociated mechanism in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionof one of the pockets or receptacles with a plan view of one of thetrucks used in connection therewith. Fig. 4 is a plan view of theapparatus; and Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views, on an enlarged scale, ofthe adjustable stops by which the lumber of different grades ordimensions is directed into the proper receptacles, Fig. 5 beingaverticalcross-section on the line oc o0, Fig. 4., and Fig. o' avertical longitudinal section at right angles to that shown in Fig. 5.

A represents a trimmer, such as is commonly employed in sawmills fortrimming the ends and cutting lumber to the desired. lengths.

B represents the sorter; C, a conveyer by which the lumber is carriedfrom the trimmer to the sorter; D D,pockets or receptaclesinto which thelumber is delivered by the sorter according to its grade, dimensions,kind, or quality, and E E are tram cars or trucks upon which the lumberis deposited in said pockets to be conducted away to the desired pointsfor piling or other disposition.

The trimmer A has a conveyer a, consisting of chains or belts providedwith dogs or spurs by which the lumber is fed in the proper position tothe trimming-saws and delivered to the conveyer G to be carried therebyto the' sorter. The conveyer C consists of two or more parallel chainbelts c c, provided at suitable intervals with dogs c c and carried uponsprocket-wheels c2 c2, which are mounted upon horizontal shafts c3 c3.Ordinarily it Will be found necessary or convenient to place the sorterabove the trimmer in order to provide pockets or receptacles of therequired depth. In such cases the conveyeris constructed and arranged toelevate the stuff from the level of the trimmer to that of the sorter,and at its upper end the chain belts pass over two sets ofsprocket-Wheels or sheaves c2 c2, arranged in the same horizontal plane,by which the upper sides of the chain belts between said sprocket-wheelsor sheaves are carried in a horizontal position. The conveyer O may bedriven through the lower sprocket-wheel shaft c5 by the belts of thetrimmer-conveyer a, which run over sprocket-wheels upon the same shaft.In some cases it may be found convenient to place the sorter on the samelevel with the trimmer, and in such cases the conveyer C may be run in ahorizontal position, or nearly so, throughout its entire length.

Between the two upper shafts c3 cs I provide a number ofshifting-rollers F F, which are supported in suitable bearings providedtherefor in the frame of the sorter, parallel with the conveyer-belts cc. These rollers are constantly rotated toward the stop at one side ofthe sorter by means of a shaft j', provided with bevel-gears workingwith similar gears on the roller-shafts and driven by a chain'beltf fromthe adjacent shaft c3, as shown in Figs. l and 4.

At the front side of the sorter, in line with the series ofshifting-rollers F, I provide a graduated stop G, consisting of a seriesof IOO vertically-movable bars g g. (Shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6.) Thesebars are placed close together, parallel with the rollers F, and aresupported at or near their ends by links g g', pivoted thereto and tothe framework of the sorter. They are elevated by means of levers g2,fulcrumed to a suitable support on the frame and connected at theirinner ends by links g3 with said bars, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. \Vhenthe operating-levers g2 are released, the bars g are automaticallyreturned to their lower position by weights g4. The bars g are arrestedin their downward movement at the proper point by a cross-beam g5,against which theadjacent linksg are brought to a vertical position,thus arresting said bars at the proper points in their upward movement.In their lower and normal position the tops of the bars g are slightlybelow the tops of the rollers F.

b b are horizontal supporting-ways having their upper faces in the sameplane with the tops of rollers F and the horizontal portions of thechain belts c. They are provided over the pockets or receptaclcsD withmovable sections b b', which are secured at one end to shafts b2,extending horizontally across the sorterat right angles to said ways. Atthe front side ofthe sorter said shafts are each provided with an armb3, placed in line with one of the bars g of stop G and beveled at itsfree end on the under side, as shown in Fig. 1. The upper end of saidbevel projecting above the plane of the way b b sutiiciently to allowthe edge of a board or other piece of lumber to pass underneath it,thereby turns the arm upwardly and with it the movable sections b b',constituting in etect arms upon the same shaft b2. The arms b3 are madesomewhat longer than the arms b', so that the latter will be raised bythe engagement of a board or piece of lumber with the beveled ends ofthe arms b3 in time to permit said board or piece of lumber to bedischarged through the openings in the ways thus presented into thereceptacles below. The free ends of the arms b are correspondinglybeveled, so as to more readily direct the lumber when they are raisedthrough the openings thus presented in the ways b and to atordsupporting-bearings when they are closed upon -the adjacent ends of theiixed portions of said ways. The lumber is taken from the shiftingrollers F and carried upon the ways b b to the openings into the severalpockets or receptacles below by a conveyerlll, which consists of two ormore chain belts 7L h, provided with dogs h,and carried by suitablesprocket-wheels h2, with their lower sides above and parallel with saidways b b. The conveyer H may be conveniently driven from the conveyer Cby means of gears c4 h3, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the gear c4 beingmounted upon one ofthe upper sprocket-wheel shafts C3, and the gear h3,meshing therewith, being mounted upon the sprocket-wheel shaft carrying`the adjacent end of the conveyer-belts h.

The pockets or receptacles D consist of up rights d d, which may serveas a part ot the framework of the apparatus and are formed on theirinner sides with vertical ways, in which are guided vertically-movablerectangular frames D', the upper horizontal ends d of which are maderemovable and aiford supports upon which the lumber is deposited,gradually descending therewith as the pile increases, until aload isformed and deposited upon the truck E at the bottom of the receptacle.The lumber is held in the receptacles D within the desired limits oneach side thereot by upright rollers I I, which are supported inbearings on vertical bars J, journaled at the ends in suitable bearingsprovided therefor on the frame, so as to permit of said rollers beingswung into and out of operative position, as shown in Fig. 3. The bars Jare provided with crank-arms j j and are connected on each side of eachreceptacle by rods j', which are in turn connected with arms on arock-shaft jz, provided with a lever js, by which said rollers I I ofeach receptacle may be simultaneously moved by the operator into or out.of operative position.

The frames D are yielding-ly supported in an elevated position andallowed to descend as the lumber accumulates thereon by the fol-lowingmechanism: Chains wound in opposite directions over a drum d2 pass oversheaves d3 and are attached at their ends to the lower cross-pieces ofsaid frames D. A cable wound over another drum d4 on the same drum-shaftin the proper direction by its nnwinding to wind the chains upon drum d2passes over a sheave d5 and is provided at the opposite end with aweight. A brakewheel d is mounted upon the drum-shaft, and a brake-strap6X7, passing around its periphery, is connected at one end with a leverd8, against the outer end of which a cam-levercl operates to draw andhold said strap diin engagement with the periphery of the brake-wheeld6. The weight by which the drum-shaft is actuated is arranged to cometo rest upon the tioor or other suitable support (not shown) when theload carried by the cross-supports d' is deposited upon the truck E, andthereby relieve said supports ot` the pressure of said weight and permitof their removal. The trucks E are provided ou the sides with stakes ee, which are pivotally or detachably connected therewith, so as to beturned down, as shown at the right hand of Fig. 2, or removed while theloads are being accumulated in the receptacles between the rollers I.

My improved apparatus operates as follows: The lumber, having beentrimmed and cut to certain lengths by the trimmer A, is carried by theconveyer C to and deposited upon the shifting-rollers F, which areconstantly rotating toward the stop G. The operator now depresses theproper lever gs to raise the bar g, corresponding with the pocket intowhich the board or piece of lumber is to lbe deposited, according to itslength, quality,

IOO

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or kind. The end of said board or piece of lumber abutting against thebar g thus elevated, as shown in Fig. 5, is thereby arrested in itslengthwise movement in position to be carried under and raise thebeveled end of the arm b3 of the receptacle into which the board orpiece of lumber is intended to be dropped. The chain belts c c ofconveyer C carry the board or piece of lumber in question off from theshifting-rollers F, delivering it upon the ways b b, where it is engagedand moved forward by the dogs h on the chains h of the overhead conveyerIl. The front end passing under the beveled end of the arm b3,corresponding to the pocket D into which it is to be deposited, liftssaid arm, as shown in Figs. l and 2, and through the shaft b2, to whichit is attached, raises the beveled ends of arms b above Ways b, thusdirecting the board or piece of lumber into the pocket below. As soon asthe board has passed through the openings thus presented in the ways b bthe arms b and b3 drop back into place, closing said openings andforming unbroken ways for the passage of other pieces of lumber. Theboards or lumber dropped into each pocket gradually accumulate therein,as shown in Figs. l and 2, upon the crosssupports d of thevertically-yielding frames D', which descend as the pile increases insize and finally deposits it upon the car or truck E below. The pocketbeing lled or a sufficient load accumulated and lowered upon said car ortruck, the weighted drum-shaft connected with the vertically-movableframes D is locked in place by means of the lever d'9, the crosssupports d are removed, the stakes e e of the car or truck are turnedinto an upright position, the rollers I I are then thrown outwardly awayfrom the load and the car with its load resting thereon is withdrawnfrom the pocket or receptacle, which is arranged as before for thereception of another load by replacing the cross-pieces d', releasingthe drum-shaft, thus allowing the frames D to be raised, and by turningthe rollers I I into operative position.

It will be understood by those familiar with the manufacture 0f lumberthat the trimmer A is not an essential part of the sorting apparatus,inasmuch as the lumber maybe taken directly from the sawmill or from anyother convenient machine or point, and it is obvious that variouschanges in details of construction and arrangement of the Various partsof the apparatus may be made within the intended scope of my invention.

In certain cases it may be practicable and desirable to dispense withthe pockets or receptacles D D and conduct the various kinds of lumberin chutes from the sorter to the varions points where it is to bedeposited or otherwise disposed of. It may also be found feasible todispense with the shifting-rollers F and stop Gr and to operate themovable sections in the ways of the sorter manually or by other meansthan those shown.

To cause the several kinds of lumber to engage the proper tri p-armsbsand drop through the ways b at the desired points, it is necessary toprevent the endwise movement of the stuff after it leaves the stop G.For this purpose the chain belts are made, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and4, to run in guides h4 h4 between the sprocket-wheels h2 h2, and theadvancing faces of dogs h h are provided with points to engage with andhold in place the boards or other pieces of lumber. The rollers F F arebeveled at their receiving ends, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, to raise thelumber slightly out of contact with the chain belts c c while it isbeing shifted endwise.

I claiml. In a lumber-sorter, the combinationlof a way having a numberof transverse openings which are normally closed by movable sections ofsaid way, an overhead conveyer arranged above and parallel with said wayto move the stuff to be sorted over said way, and trips arranged to beoperated by the stuft for opening said movable sections, substantiallyas and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of a suitable way having a numberof openings therein and movable sections normally closing said openings,an overhead conveyer arranged above and parallel with said way to movethe stud to be sorted over said way, and mechanism under the control ofthe operator by which the movable sections are opened and the lumber isdropped through said way at the proper points, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

3. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of a suitable way having openingsnormally closed by movable sections, trip arms or levers connected withsaid movable sections and arranged in different vertical planes, aconveyer arranged to move the lumber to be sorted over said way, and astop under the control/of the operator arranged to direct the lumber tothe sorter in the proper position to engage the trip arm or lever of theopening through which such lumber is to be dropped, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

4. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of a way having openings atintervals therein and movable sections normally closing said openings,trip arms or levers connected with said movable sections and arranged indifferent vertical planes, a conveyer arranged to move the lumber to besorted over said way, and a graduated stop under the control of theoperator, arranged to guide any piece of lumber to the sorter in theproper position as to its length to engage with and operate the trip armor lever of the opening through which such piece of lumber is to bedropped, substantiall y as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of a way having openings thereinat intervals and movable sections normally closing said openings, triparms or levers connected with said movable sections and arranged indilferent IOO IIO

vertical planes, a conveyer arranged to move the lumber to be sortedover said way, shifting-rollers arranged at the receiving end of thesorter parallel with said way, and a graduated stop at one side of saidsorter in line with said rollers, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

6. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of a suitable Way havingtransverse openings therein and movable sections normally closing saidopenings, trips connected with and arranged to open said movablesections by the engagement of the lumber therewith, aud an overheadconveyer arranged to move the lumber to be sorted over said way,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of an approximately-horizontalway having transverse openings therein at intervals and movable sectionsnormally closing said openings, an overhead conveyer arranged to movethe lumber laterally over said way, trips connected with said movablesections and arranged in different vertical planes, mechanism at thereceiving end of the sorter to move the lumber lengthwise, and a stopunder the control of the operator, arranged to arrest the lumber initslengthwise movement in position to engage with the trip of theopening through which it is to be dropped, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

8. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of a conveyer comprising parallelchain belts provided at suitable intervals with dogs, horizontalshifting-rollers arranged parallel and with their upper sidesapproximately in the same plane with the upper sides of said belts, waysparallel with said rollers, having transverse openings at intervalstherein and movable sections normally closing said openings, an overheadconveyer comprising chain belts provided with dogs and arranged parallelwith said ways, trips connected with the movable sections of said waysand arranged in different vertical planes, and a graduated stopcomprising a series of vertically-movable bars corresponding in numberand position with said trips, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

9. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of an approximately-horizontalway having a series of transverse openings therein and movable sectionsnormally closing said openings, a series of pockets or receptacles belowsaid openings l'or the reception of various kinds of lumber, an overheadconveyer arranged above and parallel with said way to move the lumber tobe sorted laterally over said Way, and means for opening the movablesections therein and dropping the several kinds of lumber into theproper receptacles, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

l0. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of a suitable way havingtransverse openings at intervals therein and movable sections nor mallyclosing said openings, and receptacles underneath said openings forholding the different4 kinds of lumber, said receptacles being providedwith vertically-movable yielding supports and aspace below said supportsfor the introduction of a wagon or truck, said supports being removableto deposit their load upon such wagon or truck, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

1l. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of a suitable way havingopenings at intervals therein and movable sections normally closing saidopenings, a conveyer arranged to move the lumber laterally over saidway, receptacles underneath said openings for holding different kinds oflumber, vertically-movable yielding supports upon which the lumber fallsin said receptacles, and laterallymovable uprights arranged on oppositesides of said receptacles, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

l2. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of an approximately horizontalway having openings at intervals therein and movable sections normallyclosing said openings, a series of receptacles arranged underneath saidopenings and each provided at the bottom with a removable truck,vertically-movable yielding supports upon which the lumber falls in saidreceptacles, retractile upright rollers arranged on opposite sides ot'said receptacles, and connections with the rollers of each receptacle,whereby they are simultaneously thrown into or outI of operativeposition, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

l5. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of horizontal ways havingtransverse openings at intervals and movable sections normally closingsaid openings, an overhead conveyer arranged to move the lumberlaterally over said ways, and receptacles underneath and correspondingwith said openings, each receptacle being provided ou opposite sideswith upright bars capable of turning in suitable bearings and carryingupright rollers, said bars being connected on each side of thereceptacle with a rock-sh aft and lever, whereby said rollers aresimultaneously moved into or out of operative position, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

14. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of horizontal ways havingtransverse openings therein at intervals and movable sections normallyclosing said openings, a number ot' receptacles below and correspondingwith said openings, verticallymovable frames at or near the oppositeends of said receptacles, the upper cross-pieces of said frames beingmovable, and acounterweighted drum connected by chains or cables passingover sheaves with the lower parts of said frames, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

l5. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of ways having transverseopenings at intervals therein and movable sections normally closing saidopenings, an overhead conveyer arranged to move the lumber laterallyover said ways, trips connected With said movable sec- IOO IIO

tions and arranged in dilferent vertical planes, shifting-rollersparallel With said Ways at the receiving end of the sorter, a graduatedstop consisting of a series of vertically-movable bars corresponding innumber and position with saidtrips and carried atthe ends upon pivotedparallel links, and levers severally connected With and arranged toraise said bars above the tops of said shifting-rollers, substantiallyas and for the purposes set forth.

16. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of a feeding-conveyer,shifting-rollers arranged parallel therewith, a graduated stop locatedin line with said shifting-rollers, Ways having openings at intervalstherein and movable sections normally closing said openings, an overheadconveyer arranged to take the lumber from said shifting-rollers and moveit laterally over said Ways, and a series of receptacles below saidopenings, each provided with a truck and With vertically-movableyielding supports upon which the lumber is dropped in said receptacleand lowered upon said truck, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

17. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of an approxi mately-horizontalWay having openings at intervals therein and movable sections normallyclosing said openings, trips connected with said sections and arrangedin diiferent vertical planes, and a stop consisting of a series ofindependently and vertically movable bars arranged at or nearone side ofsaid Way and parallel therewith, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

18. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of approximately-horizontal Wayshaving transverse openings at intervals therein and movable sectionsnormally closing said openings, rock-shafts to Which said movablesections are attached, and trip-arms also attached to said rock-shaftsand having their free ends beveled or inclined on the under side,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

19. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of Ways having transverseopenings at intervals therein and movable sections normally closing saidopenings, rock-shafts to which said movable sections are attached, andtrip-arms also attached to said rock-shafts and arranged in differentvertical planes, the free ends of said movable sections and trip-armsbeing beveled or inclined on the under side, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

20. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of approximately-horizontal wayshaving openings therein at intervals and movable sections normallyclosing said openings, means under the control of the operator foropening said movable sections, an overhead conveyercomprising chainbelts provided With dogs and supported upon sprocket-Wheels or drumswith their under sides above and parallel with said Ways, and guides inwhich said chain belts run between said sprocket-Wheels or drums,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2l. In a lumber-sorter, the combination of a conveyer comprising anumber of parallel chain belts provided at intervals With dogs, a numberof shifting-rollers placed parallel with the upper sides of said chainbelts with their peripheries projecting a little above said belts andhaving their receiving ends beveled, so as to receive and raisethelumber thereon, and a stop against which the lumber is moved endwiseby said rollers, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I affix my signaturein presence of tWo Witnesses.

' CHAS. R. LITTLE.

W'itnesses:

HARVEY P. SMITH, O. B. LITTLE.

